If you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to have baby roaches in your apartment, you know that they can be quick and hard to get rid of.
Roach infestations can quickly become a nightmare – they’re nasty and can quickly grow into adult roaches, which are notoriously difficult to exterminate!
Getting rid of baby roaches in your apartment consists of a few different steps, but it all begins with identifying where they’re hiding.
Once you’ve found their nesting place, you can begin the process of exterminating them, with DIY solutions such as a mix of baking soda and sugar, or peppermint oil sprays.
How to Identify Nesting Areas for Baby Roaches?
Baby roaches are small and brown, about the size of a grain of rice. They are often found in dark, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
To identify nesting areas for baby roaches, look for small brown bugs in these locations. You may also see them near food sources, such as garbage cans or pet food bowls.
Some common nesting areas for baby roaches may include but are not limited to:
- Sinks and bathrooms
- Cracks and crevices
- Attics
- Crawling spaces
- Kitchens
You can trace back the baby roaches to their nesting area by following a trail of them back to their source. Once you have found the nesting area, you can begin the process of getting rid of them.
How to Get Rid of Baby Roaches in Your Apartment?
Now that you’ve identified where the baby roaches are nesting, it’s time to get rid of them! There are a few different methods you can use to get rid of baby roaches, and here are some common home DIY solutions that have been proven to be effective.
Baking Soda + Sugar
One popular home remedy for getting rid of roaches is mixing baking soda and sugar. The sweet smell of the sugar will attract the roaches, and the baking soda will kill them. For cockroaches, baking soda acts as a poison, killing these baby (and adult) roaches quickly.
To use this method, simply mix together equal parts of baking soda and sugar. Then, sprinkle the mixture around your apartment.
For best results, focus on areas where you’ve seen roaches before, such as near baseboards or under appliances. Within a few days, you should see a significant decrease in the number of roaches in your home.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is a powdered substance that is poisonous to roaches. It works by puncturing their exoskeletons and dehydrating them.
You can purchase boric acid at most hardware stores. To use it, simply sprinkle it around the perimeter of your rooms, being careful not to get it on any surfaces that come into contact with food.
You should also put some in cracks and crevices where roaches like to hide.
When baby roaches ingest the powder as they crawl around, this could lead to their death. This is a go-to method for different kinds of infestations, but you should always remember that this should always be used with caution.
If you have pets or small children in your home, you’ll need extra care to keep them away from areas where boric acid has been applied.
Peppermint Oil
For humans, peppermint oil is refreshing and has a pleasant smell. But for roaches, the opposite is true – they hate the smell of peppermint oil!
This is a natural repellent that can be very effective at keeping roaches away. Simply add a few drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle filled with water and spray it around your apartment.
You can also add a few drops to a cotton ball and place it in areas where you’ve seen roaches. The strong smell of peppermint will keep them away. While peppermint oil won’t kill roaches, it does an excellent job of ensuring that roaches are kept away from your home.
Place peppermint cotton balls in your wardrobe, kitchen cabinets, and near baseboards to keep roaches at bay.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is a botanical insecticide that is derived from the seeds of the neem tree. It works by disrupting the life cycle of the roaches, preventing them from being able to reproduce. Additionally, neem oil has a strong scent that roaches find repulsive, so it can also help to keep them away from your home.
To use neem oil, simply mix it with water and spray it around your home, paying particular attention to cracks and crevices where these critters like to take shelter.
You can also add a few drops of neem oil to your vacuum cleaner bag to help kill any roaches that you vacuum up.
Fabric Softener Spray
Fabric softeners contain chemicals that can kill roaches. When used as a spray, it can help to get rid of roaches quickly. To get rid of baby roaches, mix equal parts fabric softener and water in a spray bottle. Then, simply mist the solution around your apartment, especially in areas where you think roaches are staying.
The fabric softener will kill the roaches on contact and also repel them from coming back. For best results, reapply the solution every few days.
Bay Leaves
Baby roaches are especially pesky, as they are often too small to catch with traps or poison. Fortunately, there is a simple and effective way to get rid of baby roaches that do not require any toxic chemicals. All you need are some bay leaves!
Bay leaves contain a compound called linalool, which is a natural insecticide. Simply place bay leaves in strategic locations around your apartment, and the baby roaches will be drawn to the linalool and die.
To use this method, simply crush up some bay leaves and sprinkle them around your apartment, being sure to focus on areas where you’ve seen baby roaches.
You can also place whole bay leaves in these areas for extra effectiveness. Reapply as needed until the baby roaches are gone.
This method is safe for humans and pets, and it will not damage your apartment in any way. So if you are looking for a natural and effective way to get rid of baby roaches, bay leaves make an excellent solution.
Baby Roaches in Your Apartment: When Should You Call for Professional Help?
If you have tried all of the above methods and you are still seeing baby roaches in your apartment, it may be time to call for professional help. Occasional cockroaches are usually seen in apartments but are seeing them on a regular basis, it may be indicative of a larger problem.
A professional exterminator will be able to identify the source of your cockroach infestation and recommend the best course of action to get rid of them for good.
Most of the time, despite all of your efforts, you will need professional help to completely get rid of a cockroach infestation.
Maybe you’re not targeting the right area, or probably there’s a bigger infestation somewhere in your apartment that a professional exterminator will be able to identify and solve.
While getting rid of baby roaches in your apartment can be a challenge, it is important to remember that you are not alone.
Many people struggle with cockroach infestations, and there are many effective solutions available. With a little patience and perseverance, you can get rid of these pests for good.
Final Thoughts
Baby roaches often stay in small, tight spaces. Identifying their nesting area, using DIY solutions such as a mixture of baking soda and sugar or a bit of peppermint oil spray can help get rid of them. Bay leaves and even cockroach traps may also be effective solutions.
If you have tried all of these solutions and are still struggling with a cockroach infestation, don’t forget that there’s no shame in calling professional help.
